Transmission



Jan'. 14, 1936. R, LAPSLEY 2,027,442

. TRANsxIssIoN Filed lay 29, A1933 3 Sheets-Sheet` l R. LAPSLEY TRANSMISSION Jan. 14, 1936.

Filed May 29, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 2 adm O au 7 R. LAPsLl-:Y 2,027,442

TRANSMISS ION Jan.'14, 1936. y

. Filed May 29,"1933 3 Sheets-'Sheet 3 Patented Jan; i4, 1936 Clark 1Rollei-tLapsi'emherrienSprings.lllcl|.,as'slgnor lallnment Company, Buchanan, maesrpsradsnsfmehigan Mutanten-inmersa ischen. (cue-415) 'I'hepresent invention relates generally to pow.

.I ertransmlssiondevlces.andparticularlytotrans missions adapted for use in automotive vehicles 1 andthe like..

' Transmissions for automobiles and other vehicles ,are provided so as to secure a plurality of different driving ratios betweenthe motor and the 'driving wheels for the Purpose of accommo- A dating various driving conditions and for accelerating the 'vehicle In some cases transmissions are employed in which four or more speeds forward and reverse are obtainable, and where` Vmore lthan four forward speeds are provided, the

. lowest stage or ratio and the reverse drive are tion or torque desired.

A generally arranged to be controlled by the same shift rod. The lowest stage or ratio is not intended, generally, to be employed for acceleration, or even started unless the load is exceptionally heavy, in normal driving but is an emergency low gear for heavy duty. Thus,A the vmaximum speed reduction ratio and the reverse drive are -seltcilom employed as compared with the other gear In normal opera n, the'vehicle or other apparatus is started and gotten underway by progressively selecting different gear ratios varying Afrom' what istermed low gearor low driving ratios to high gearorhighdrivingratios. The ratios are selected, according to .best practice, in accordance with the normal load; the characteristics of the motor. and the Nowinpassingfromonegearratiotoanother, itis not desirablewshiftfromoneofthelow gear ratiosto a high gear ratio without engaging at least one of the more intermediate ratios, although it-ispossiblewhere anumber of ratios may beselectedto omit one or more ofthe ratios jf I vention contemplates the provision of means ar- Ydurlnsthe. f s

' orv carelessly selecting improper gear ratios.

-More particularly, the present invention coll-l `templates means providing'a restraintuponthe unlimited selection ofratios possible in the con- I ventional on. For

\ 'invention contemplates means serving to prevent the operator from eitherthee'mergencyl low gear or the reverse gear accidentally or carellesslyunlesssuchraiioorratiosareactuallyde- .,sired andv an'effortis expended to secure the same. the present vinvention also contemplates theprovision ofmeans serving to preventtheoperator fromselectingoneotthehh'her.

gear ratios unless one of' the more intermediate I Vgear ratioshasbeenemployedintheseslueuce.

speciiically, the present inventionpmvides means to positively prevent-the gear shift member from being movedfrom either low orreverse wfounnormmpeeds) commentandociples of the present invention. it is for Vthe operator to select one of the intermediate ratios. and the selecting of this ratio serves to release or'dlsengage'the means which operated to prevent the selection of fourth or fifth speeds directly from the lower ratios.

of means toy prevent the engagement of the gears in an improper sequence of ratios vbut which means automatically yields to any reasonable progression of shifts and is of simplified construction in that the operator is not required to manually release a latch in order to engage any speed in the transmission.

`The present invention also contemplates the utilization of a latch plate operatively associated with the gear shift lever or equivalent member and serving to restrain the unlimited movement thereof to .such an extent that at any one time only certain of the possible driving ratios available may be selected, but in such connection the present invention also contemplates the means for shifting the latch plate so as to make possible controlled by the act of selecting one of the higher driving ratios of the rst group. Furthenlthe presentxinvention also contemplates means for' preventing the return of the latch plate to its original position, thereby preventing the engagement of the lower driving ratios or reverse unless thesameareactuallydesiredandanextraeffort is made to secure the same.

Still further,` the present invention contemplates the provision of a tran in which the various driving gear ratios available are arranged in several groups, certain of which pro- 'vide for high driving ratios and others of which provide for low driving ratios, with intermediate group or groups, in connection with which errangement the prent invention further lcontemplates the provision of a latch plate or a selector serving to limit the selections possible to either the lower ratlos and the intermediate ratios y.or the intermediate ratios and the higher ratios.

be freely selected at any time, but the end groups, thaty is to say, the higher or the lower driving y Another object of the invention is the provision That is. the lintermediate group or groups may ratios, are not bothcapable of being freely selected unls certainacts are performed to that end. Generieally, of course, the intermediate ratios may be considered witheither of the end groups. so that there is one group of lower driving ratiosandasecondgroupofhigherdrivingratios,

with means oontroiling'the selection of positions f These and other objectsof the-present inventionwillbeapparenttothoseskilledintheart atteraconsiderationofthefollowingdetailed description of the construction in which the principles o fwthe present invention are preferably embodied, such construction being shown 'by way `of example in the accompanying drawings formof Figure 1 but on an enlarged scale,` showing in particular my novel latch plate construction and the relation between-thesame and the lower end of the gear shift lever;

Figure 8 is a section taken along the line 3,-3 of Figure 1;

4Figure 4 is a perspective view of the latch plate shown in Figures 1 to 3;

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are similar toFigure 2 and show different positions of the latch plate; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary section, similar to the section shown in Figure 3, showing the restraining means in operative position to resist the returnv of the latch plate to the position which it occupies in Figure 2- v Referring now more particularly to Figure 1.

lthe transmission in which the present invention has been embodied is a transmission adapted for use in automotive vehicles and the like and, insofar as the present invention is concerned, may be of more or less conventional' construction. As shown, however, the transmission embodies a casing i in which is journaled a driving shaft 2, a driven shaft 3 and a countershaft The countersliaft 4 is driven from the driving shaft 2 by means of a pair of gears 5 and 3, these gears being 'arranged to be in constant mesh. A second pair of constant mesh gears 9 and I0 serve to connect the driven shaft 3 with the countershaft 3. The'gear '3 is journaled for rotation on the driven shaft 3 by bushing means I2 .and is adapted to be connected with the driven shaft by means of as lidable clutch hub I3 which is adapted'to be shifted to either connect the driven shaft 3 with the gear i on the driving shaft or with the gear3. The driven shaft 3 carries other slidable gears I3 and I1, the former being' adapted to engage either the gear I3 or the gear I3 while the slidable gear I1 is adapted to mesh with the gear 23 or a reverse gear (not shown). The gear` rods 23, 21 and 23 are controlled by means of a gear shift lever 33 which is supported for limited movement by a shift housing 3lcarried' by the cover plate 32 oil the transmission casing land having its lower endl 33 arranged to engage shift yokles33,'33 and 31 carried, respectively, by the that the' transmission shown provides ve speeds From the above description it will be observed or ratios for forward travel and one driving ratio for reverse. In operating the vehicle or other machine having such a transmission. it is frequently unnecessary to engage the lowest driving ratio, that is, the ratio providing the vgreatest reduction, unless the machine is to be started` under adverse conditions, such as in abnormally heavy load or unfavorable road conditions or other factors. Likewise, in accelerating the machine, it is not necessary to engage every one of the driving ratios possible in progressively in- 5 creasing the speed of the machine.v For example,

it is frequently possible to start in what is commonly. termed second gear and to engage vonly one -of the intermediate gears, namelythird or fourth, before selecting fth speed, commonly called high 1o gear or direct drive. However, for best operation it is not desirable to go directly from first speed to one of the higher speeds, as fourth or fifth gear, without engaging atleast one of the interslowest speeds and the highest speeds, while the 25 I second group may be considered an intermediate i group.

Coming now to the feature of the present invention which prevents misuse of the transmisk sion by preventing the engagement of gears in an 30 improper sequence of ratios while automatically yielding to any reasonable -progresslon of shifts,

I have provided a latch plate 50 best shown per se in Figure 4 and which is suspended from the cover housing 32 by a pivot pin 5I and a 35 stop pin 52 both having heads, 53 and. 54, respectively, best shown in Figure 3. The Ilatch plate is provided with a slot 56 which receives the pivot pin 5I and provides for both sliding and pivotal movement of the latch plate 50 with 4.0 respect thereto. A notch 31 is provided in the latch plate 53 opposite the slot 53, the notch 51.- being provided with a shoulder 53 adjacent a recessed portion 53 fora purpose which will be described later. The notch 31 accommodates the 45 stop pin 5 2. -v

A centralslot 3i of the form .best shown in Figure 4 is provided in the plate 50 and cooperates with the gear shiftlever33 by receiving the lower end 33 thereof. 'Ihe slot 35 is of cer- 50 tain dimensions with respect to the` spacing of the shifting yokes'33, 33 and 31, the relation between these parts being best shown in Figure 2. and is such that, with the latch plate 50 in a given position, the-movements of the gear shift lever 33 are restricted so that the lower end 33 thereof may` select only certain of the possible driving ratios.

Referring now more particularly to'Figure 2,

,it will be seen that one wall of the `cover plate 60 32 isv provided with an apertured 31 which receives a spring pressed plunger 33', the spring means., 33 thereof being capable of reacting by the'v spring pressed plunger sa is opposed by'zo the engagement of the shoulder Il against the stop pin l2, the pivot pin Il in this position being disposed 'at one end'of the slot 33. In this position of the latch plate Il, the slot 65 is so disposed with respect to the' shift yokes 35,3315

9,097, and-31 that the lo wer end of the gear shift ly prevented, the selection of fourth orl fifth vlever Il is enabled to engage only'the yokes Il and l1, the edge 1l of the slot effectively preventing the movement of the lower end 3l of the gear shift lever into engagement withy the forwardly, but it would be impossible for the operator to shift directly from either of these gears into fourth or fifth speeds. 'I'he operator may, of course,'engage reverse drive to start the ma- -chine rearwardly.

In order to permit the subsequent selection of either fourth or fth speeds, or both, it is'necessary-to free the latch plate from the stop pin Bland the means to this end will now be described. Adjacent one end of the slot 85 is a 4can! section or abutment shoulder 11 which is ldisposed 'in .the path of movement of the gear shift lever when the lower end ll thereof is moved to select second speed or second driving ratio. Likewise, adjacent the other end of the slot 6B is a pivoted lever 8l having a portion disposed in the-path of movement of the lower Y end Il of the gearshift lever when the 'latter is l moved to select third speed or third .driving ratio. The pivotedl lever is supported, as best shown in` Figure 3, from the cover housing 32 by means of apin ll'carried'byaboss l2 formed Il adapted to engage within a slot or notch Il,

formed in the latch plate Il adjacent the locking notch I1. Thus, whenever the lower end Il of the gear shift lever engages the portion II- of the pivoted lever to rock thesame in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2, the latchplate will be pivoted about its pivot pin Il in a counterclockwise direction and will shift the shoulder I8 'out of engagement with the stop pin l2, as best shown in Figure 7, the spring pressed plunger Il being forced inwardly of its boss i1 by this operation. In a similar way, when the lower end Il of the4 gear shift leverengages the shoulder 11 at the other e`nd of the slot `the latch plate Il will be pivoted about the pivot A.

` Il becomes immediately effective to shift the latch plate 5l so that the pin Il lies at the other end of the slot 56 and so that'the stop pini! lies at the bottom of the notch 51. This position of the latch plate is best shown in Figure 6, from which it will be observed that this shift of the latch plate Il has now disposed the slot IB in such-a position that the shift yoke may now be engaged by the end lI-of the gear shift lever so that either fourth or fifth speeds may be selected by the' operator. Thus, after the operator has .selected either second or third, speeds the latch plate, .which formerly positive'- .chine is being accelerated in the lower driving automatically to permit such progression.

speeds, nowpermits that selection.`

From the above description it wi1l be clear that I have provided means operative when the maratios to prevent the accidental or careless selecltion of a driving ratio out of the normal or desirable sequence or pon of shifts. The

that as long as any reasonable progression of 1g shifts is employed the latch plate 5l operates Now having provided means permitting a reasonable sequence or progression of shifts from low or reverse to high gear, it becomes of substantially 15 equal importance to prevent an operator from carelessly or accidentally shifting from one of the higher speeds to one of the lower speeds too far down in the sequence. In the present instance, f such desirable result is conveniently accomplished 2o by introducing a resistance to the return of the latch plate ll from its position shown in Figure 6 to its position shown in Figures 2 and 5. To this end, theend of the latch plate 50 adjacent the slot 5I is provided with a bevel 01 adjacent which 25 is a spring pressed plunger $0 including a spring li received within a bore Il formed in the cover housing l2 and provided with a ball end Il adapted to engage the bevel end l1 of the latch plate Il. When the latter is arranged to permit the selection of the lower gear ratios, the spring preed plunger is retracted in the bore 92 and the ball end S4 engages the upper surface of the latch plate. However; when the-latch plate Il has been shifted to the position-shown in Figure 6, the ball end M ofthe spring pressed plunger Il snaps behind the bevel end B1, as best shown in Figure 8, and is therefore disposed in a position to offer resistance tothe return of the latch plate" toitsoriginal position shown inFigure 2. This ristance is established because it is necessary when shifting the latch plate SII back to its original position to cam the spring pressed plunger 4Il upwardly against the tension of the spring 9|.

As will be understood, the latch plate will be moved back to its original position by the operator pressing the lower end 33 of the gear shift lever'against the edge of the slot 65 opposite the lower edge 1l. It is also to be noted that this return movement of the latch plate il is opposed by the spring il.

From the above lit will be observed that the latch plate Il embraces the lower end of the gear shift lever and restrictslthe otherwise unlimited selection of k driving ra permitting, however, an unlimited seieetionwitmn certain limits. Thus,

a simple and orderly progressiono'f "shifts arcobtained which is flexible enough to meet al1 conditions but which is, nevertheless, capable of oiering certain restrictions to thereby prevent misuse 60 of the n and engagement of the gears in an improper sequence of ratios.

From the above detailed description, the ope tion of a on constructed according to the principles of the present invention is believed to be apparent. Reverse is obtained by moving the lever `33 toward the pivot pin 5I, thereby disposing the latch plate Il in the position shown in Figure 1 if it is not already in that position, and movingtheshiftyoke i1totherightasviewed70 in Figure 2. which is to the rear of the transmisnormal installations. Upon returning to neutral, anyofthethreelowerspeedsmay besel'f, for example, the shift yoke 31 is forwardly, that'is to the left as viewedl in 15 Figure 2 low speed, sometimes called emergency low speed, is selected, and upon returning the shift yoke 31. to neutral and moving the gear4 shift lever 33 sidewise into engagement with the shift yoke 35, the edge of the slot 55 will prevent the lever 33 from continuingin such sidewise vmovement and will prevent its engagement with the shift yoke 35 instead of the shift yoke 36 as desired, in order to properly progress-through .second andthird speeds into fourth and high. Since the latch plate 5I) is positively retained in the, position shown in Figure 2 by the abutment shoulder 58 engaging the stop pin 52, the high speed shift yoke 35 will not be accidentally engaged, no matter how sharply the gear shift lever '33 strikes the edge i5 of the latch plate 50.

Fromthe operation so far described, it will be understood that the operator may .shift into reverse and back up, after which he may start forward, using anyV of the three lower ratios, which are the only reasonable ratios he should use for starting in a forward direction. After any one or more of these three lower ratios has been selected, the operator may progress to high speed through an orderly sequence of ratios without stop orv special operations in shifting, and without danger of engaging any ratio other than in its correct sequence. This result is secured by virtue of the above described construction wherein, when ever either second'or third speed is selected, the latch plate 50 is automatically shifted into a position to permit the selection of either fourth or fifth speeds or both. V

With the transmission engaged in high speed, and if it is desired to progress to lower ratios, the latch 50 still functions to prevent the engagement of ratios in an improper sequence. The 'shift lever 33 would first move the yoke 35 to the right as viewed in Figure 2 to engage fourth speed. Then the lever 33 would shift the yoke 35 to neutral and would then be moved sidewise into the intermedate shift yoke 35, striking the edge of the slot 65 opposite the lower edge 15. The spring pressed plunger 65 would then operate as a check to prevent the latch opla-i'fey 50 from moving so that the slot 85 would.

Athen guide. the gearv shift lever 33 into proper engagementwithl the intermediate shift yoke v:i6 and would be effective in ensuring that either second or third speed would be next selected. Should it thenbe desired to select low speed, it

is necessary toshift the intermediate yoke 3B to its neutral position andto pull sharply on -but that, in fact, .widely different means may be employed in the practice of the broader aspects of my invention.

What-I claim,V therefore, and desireito secure by Letters' Patentis:

I1.- In a' selective transmission, a shiftable member optionally movable to a plurality of positions normally providlnglprogressivelv varying driving ratios, means limiting the selection. to any one of agroup consisting of a limited number of less than all of said positions, and 'means acaoamm tuated by the selection of certain of said limited number of positions for shifting said first means to provide for the selection of positions outside said group.

` 2. In a selective transmissioma shiftable mem- 5 ber optionally movable to a plurality of positions normally providing progressively varying driving. ratios, releasable means adapted to be -tions t`o provide dierent driving ratios, shiftable 2o latch means associated with said member acncl operative in one position to prevent the movement thereof to`certain of said. positions, and means connected with said latch means and engageable by said shiftmember to cause the latter when moved to one or more of saidlast named positions to move said latch means to provide for the selection of positions other than said last named positions.

v4. .In a selective transmission including a plurality of shift members anoptionally shiftable member movable to a plurality of positions to select certain of said members to provide a lfirst group of lower driving ratios and to a plurality oi' other positions to select other of said members 35 to provide a second group of higher driving ratios, latch means associated with said member and operative to prevent the'movement thereof to a position in the second group, and means responsive to the selection of one of the positions 40 in the first group for sluiting said latch means to provide for the selection of one'of the positions in the' first group.

:5. In a selective transmission, Yan optionally shiftable member movable to a plurality of positions tovprovide different driving ratios, a shiftable latch plate restraining the` movement of said member to a limited number of said positions, and means for shifting thelatch plate upon the selection of either of two of said limited number of positionsv to permit the selection of other positions.

6. In a transmission, a shiftable member optionally movable to a plurality of positions, means 1 serving to limit the lmovementoi said member to movement into certain of said positions and to positively prevent the movement of said member toward other of saidpositions, and means responsive to the selection of at least vone of said certain positions for shifting said movement pre- 50 venting means to provide for the selection of a number. of positions including said other positions and at least said one of said certain positions.

7. In a transmission, a shiftable member -options in said intermediate group for shifting said Y limiting means to provide for the selection of positions in the other of said ,end groups.

8. In a selective transmission, an optionally shiftable member normally movable to a number of selected positions in a given sequence and separable into two end groups and one intermediate group, a shiftable plate engageable with said member and operative in 'one position to limit the movement of said member to positions in the intermediate group and in one of said end groups and operative in another position to limit the movement of said member to positions in the intermediate group and in the other of said end groups, and means serving to check vthe movement of said shiftable plate from one position to another so as to prevent the accidental selection of one of said end group positions out of the proper sequence.

9. In a selective transmission, an optionally shiftable member normally movable to a.v number of selected positions in .a given sequence, means operative at any one time to restrict the number of positions to which said shiftable member may be moved, and means for shifting said first means relative to the total number .of selected positions possible.

10. In a selective transmission, an optionally shiftable member normally movable to a `number of selected positions in a given sequence, a latch member embracing said shiftable member and limiting its movements to a selection of certain of said positions, and'latch mechanism providing for the movement of said latch member to a new position in which said shiftable member is limited to a selection to certain positions different from those capable of being selected in the ilrst position of said latch member. l

11. In a selective transmission, an optionally shiftable member movable to a number of selected positions, releasable means eifective to prevent the movement of said member to certain of said positions, and means operated by the movement of said member to other of said selected positions for releasing said rst means to permit the movement of said member to at least one of said certain positions.

12. In a selective transmission, an optionally shiftable member movable to a number of selected positions, releasable means eifective to prevent the movement of said member to certain of said positions, said means comprising a latch plate embracing said shiftablemember, means operated by the movement of said member to other of said selected positions for releasing said latch plate to prevent the movement of said member to at least one of said 'certain positions, and biased means for imposing a resistance on the latch plate tending to prevent its return.

13. In a transmission, a shiftable member optionally movable to a plurality of selected positions, a shiftable spring pressed latch plate restricting the movements of said member to a limited number ofsaid positions, stop means restraining the latch plate from movement, and

means operative upon engagement by said memberr upon being shifted to certain of said limited positions for freeing said latch plate from said stop means to permit movement thereof to present other positions of said shiftable member for selection.

14. In a transmission, a shiftablemember optionally movable to a plurality of selected positions, a shiftable spring pressed latch plate restricting the movements of said member to a limited number of said positions, stop means restraining the latch plate from movement, and

cam means disposed in the path oi movement of the shiftable member toward certain of said limited positionsand operative upon engagement by said member for freeing said latch plate from said stop means to permit movement thereof to 5 present other positions 0f saidpshiftable member tor selection.

15. In a transmission, a shiftable member optionally movable to a plurality of selected positions, a shiftable latch plate biased for move- 10 ment in one direction and serving to limit the movements of'said shiftable member to a limited number of said positions, stop means opposing 'said bias and operative to restrain said latch plate from movement thereunder, and a pivoted 15 lever having one portion connected with said plate and another portion disposed in the path of movement of said shiftable member and operative upon being engaged thereby for shifting said latch plate to free the same from said stop 20 means, said latch plate thereupon moving under lthe influence of said bias to a new position to permit the selection of other positions for said shiftable member.

16. In a transmission, a shiftable member op-.25 tionally movable to a plurality of selected positions, a shiftable latch plate biased for movement in one direction and having a slot in which said member is'disposed and an abutment shoulder, the edges of said vslot serving to limit 'the 3.0

movements pf said shiftable member to a lim ited number of said positions, stop means cooper ating with said abutment shoulder on plate for opposing said bias and operative to restrain said latch plate from movement thereunder, one end 35 of said slothaving an abutment portion, and a pivoted lever having one portion connected with said plate and another portionfdisposed adjacent the other end of said slot, said latch plate being freed from said stop means by the engage- 40 ment of either the pivoted lever'or said cam portion by said shiftable member.

17. In a transmission, a casing, a shiftable member optionally movable to a plurality of selected positions, a latch plate carried by said 5 casing for pivotal and sliding movement relative thereto and cooperating with said shiftable member for limiting the movements of the latter, stop means holding said latch plate in one position, means biasing said plate for sliding movement 50 to another position, and means operative by a l movement of said shiftable member to certain of .thereto and cooperating with said shiftable member for limiting the movements of thelatter to movements toward a certain group of said positions, means biasing said plate for sliding movement to one position, stop means carried by said G5 casing and arranged to restrain said latch plate from movement to said one position, and means operative by a movement' of said shiftable member to certain ofthe positions within said group for swinging said latch plate away from said stop means to permit said biasing means to slide the plate to permit said shiftable member to be moved to positions outside said group.

ROBERT LAPSLEY.

CERTIFICATE CF CORRECTION. 6

Pza/serrl No. 2,027,442. January 14, 1936.

ROBERT LAPSLEY.

y It is hereby Certified that error appears in the printed specification of -he above numbered patent vrequiring Correction as follows: Page 4, second Column, line 43, Claim 4, for ."frst" read second; and 'that the said Let- Iers Patent. shold be read with this Correction therein that the same may Conform to the record ofthev casev in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of February, A. D. 1936.

Les ie r z Acting Commssgngref-Patents.

(Seal) 

